FISHBUOY Pro Fishing App for North Americal Anglers
FISHBUOY Pro Fishing App for North Americal Anglers

LAKE TROUT

How to identify a Lake Trout

It is classified taxonomically with the chars, although some scientists prefer to place it in a genus of its own. Like other chars it has white leading edges on all the lower fins and light colored spots on a dark background, instead of the dark spots on a light background which is characteristic of salmon and trout. The body is typically grayish to brownish with white or nearly white spots which extend onto the dorsal, adipose, and caudal fins. There are no red, black or haloed spots of any kind. It has a more deeply forked tail than other chars, and several rows of strong basibranchial teeth which are weak, less numerous, or absent in other chars. It is very large char known to grow over 100 lb. (45 kg).It has been crossed with the brook trout to produce a hybrid known as the “splake” or “wendigo trout.” The hybrid lacks the deep fork in the tail and more closely resembles the brook trout in most respects. There are 65-85 pyloric caeca in the hybrid versus 93-208 in the lake trout and 23-55 in the brook trout.

Where to catch Lake Trout

The lake trout is found throughout most of Canada and well into Alaska as well as the Great Lakes and in sections of the western U.S. where it has been introduced. In the southern portions of its range, or where introduced south of its native range, it seeks out the cooler waters of deep lakes. In northern lakes it may occur in either shallow or deep water. The siscowet, one of three recognized subspecies, is found in Lake Superior at a depth of 300-600 ft. (91-183 m). It is called a fat by commercial fishermen because the flesh is exceedingly fat and oily compared to the other two subspecies. Of all the chars, it is the least tolerant of salt water and is the only freshwater fish ranging into the far north of Canada and Alaska that has apparently not crossed the Bering Strait.

IDENTIFICATION

How to Identify a Lake Trout
 1 Dark greyish-green body with irregular shapped white splotches over most of the body

 2 White spots which extend onto the dorsal, adipose, and caudal fins

 3 White leading edges on all the lower fins and light colored spots on a dark background

TARGET AREAS

  • Current Edges
  • Drop-Offs
  • Merging Currents
  • Overhanging Trees and Bushes
  • Rock and Boulder Pockets
  • Standing Waves
  • Dams and Falls
  • Eddies
  • Outsides of Bends
  • Rivers and Streams
  • Small Pointed Waves
  • Undercuts

Acknowledgements:  We thank TAKEMEFISHING.org (www.takemefishing.org), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Department of Natural Resources for their contributions to these FISH FACTS.

  • WEATHER

    ALL NEW chart provides you with the ability to check out weather, wind and moon phase conditions.

Real-Time Weather Data for Anglers
  • LAKE MAPS

    Plan for places to fish with detailed lake contour maps by Navionics (Uses your existing Navionics app login)

Real-Time Weather Data for Anglers 8
  • MARINE

    Before you head out on the water, make sure to check out real-time NOAA marine buoy data.

Real-Time Marine Buoy Data
  • GAUGE DATA

    Watch river and reservoir water levels, flow rates, temps and even turbidity across North America.

Real-Time Water Gauge Data
  • LOGGING

    Automatically log your catch details every time you take a photo.

Fish Catch Digital Logs
  • GALLERY

    Conveniently search your fish photos using species and date range filters.

Manage and control your fishing history in one place!
  • TRIP STATS

    View your top three fish species, lures and bait colors at the end of your trip.

Post-Trip Personal Fishing Stats
  • DERBIES

    Create private events, invite competitors to join, share live feeds of your fishing derbies!

Fishing Derbies and Event Management
  • LOGGING

    Quickly add fish details to your photo - select from fish species, size, lure and primary lure color.

Fish Data Entry
  • WEIGHT

    Automatically estimate fish weight.  Simply measure the fishes length and girth to see the resulting weight.

Fish Weight Estimator
  • FISH ID

    The Fish Identification Tool was designed to help anglers correctly identify freshwater and saltwater sports fish.

Fish Identification Tool
  • LURE COLOR

    The Lure Color/Depth Tool was designed to help anglers pick the best lure color based on depth.

Lure Color Depth Tool

More than just a photo.

Anglers now have the ability to automatically log fish catches with a single photo.  Why wouldn't you?

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